JNM journalist Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
The advance registration process for the 2026 Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage to the sacred Barfani shrine, began nationwide on Wednesday. As soon as registration began, large crowds of pilgrims thronged various bank branches, with long queues visible at many locations.
This year, the Amarnath Yatra will begin on July 3rd and continue for a total of 57 days until August 28th. The Yatra will conclude on Raksha Bandhan. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has opened registration facilities at 554 branches of Punjab National Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, Yes Bank, and SBI across the country.
A registration fee of ₹150 has been set. Pilgrims will also be issued a travel permit for the Pahalgam or Baltal route. No pilgrims will be permitted to travel without an RFID card.
The Shrine Board has clarified that a health certificate issued after April 8, 2026, will be mandatory for registration. Furthermore, pilgrims must not be under 13 years of age or over 70 years of age. Aadhaar-based biometric registration has also been made mandatory for all pilgrims.
Long queues of pilgrims formed at many bank branches in Jammu since early morning. Many pilgrims arrived before registration began. Enthusiasm was evident among first-time pilgrims, while many experienced pilgrims also arrived to join the first batch.
Although the online registration process has been initiated, many pilgrims faced difficulties due to technical glitches on the website, leading most to prefer offline registration.
The administration and the Shrine Board have claimed extensive arrangements to ensure a safe and convenient pilgrimage this year.
